MOBILE, Ala. -- It will take much longer than first expected for Alabama's Department of Public Health to get enough swine flu vaccine to protect everyone who wants it across the state.

As of this afternoon, state officials said they have received less than 6,000 doses of the first 61,000 officials originally anticipated.

"We are going to be challenged in terms of trying to get it out as soon as everybody would like," said state health officer Dr. Donald Williamson. "We don't get half of our vaccine until after Dec. 4."

State health officials said previously they should have at least half a million doses by the end of October. Williamson said some doctor's offices and hospitals that only ordered doses of the H1N1 vaccine serum to give as shots may get the flu mist nasal vaccine first.

The vaccine used as a nasal mist contains a live form of the H1N1 virus and is licensed for those age 2 to 49 with no underlying health conditions.

Since July, 16 Alabama residents who contracted swine flu, also known as the H1N1 influenza strain, have died. Two of the confirmed H1N1-related deaths have been in Mobile, health officials said.